The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7469 p283
15 September 2007

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News summary

New treatment available for children with growth failure

Mecasermin (Increlex) — a human insulin-like growth factor produced by recombinant DNA technology — has been launched this week by Ipsen. The subcutaneous injection is indicated for long-term treatment of growth failure in children and adolescents with severe primary insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) deficiency.

Mecasermin should always be administered shortly before a meal or snack to minimise the risk of hypoglycaemia occurring. The usual starting dose is 0.04mg/kg twice a day, increased on an individual basis as tolerated.

Patients with primary IGF-1 deficiency can have mutations in the growth hormone receptor, the post-growth hormone receptor signalling pathway and IGF-1 gene defects, but they are not growth hormone deficient. They may not, therefore, respond to standard growth hormone treatment.